(Washington, D.C.)—Seventy-eight administrators from public colleges and universities across the nation, including West Texas A&M University President J. Patrick O’Brien, have been selected to develop recommendations for a Voluntary System of Accountability.
The project is a partnership between the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC).
O’Brien will serve as vice chairman of the task force on campus engagement. E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith, provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs, Prairie View A&M University, is a member of the technical work group on student growth outcomes.
In 2006, NASULGC and AASCU consulted with various education officials, public policymakers and academic leaders on ways that public higher education can become more accountable to the public on learning outcomes and campus engagement while also providing additional information to students and families to aid them in the selection process. The result is the Voluntary System of Accountability Project.
The project is made possible by a $267,900 grant from the Lumina Foundation for Education.
During 2007, the participants will work as task forces and technical work groups developing a system of accountability that could be adopted at any public college or university. The groups are:
